RESTAURANT REVIEW: Johnny O’Quigley’s does bar food, more

JENNIFER SCHAEFER | Daily News

Monday

Mar 25, 2013 at 12:01 AMMar 25, 2013 at 8:05 AM

Johnny O’Quigley’s is an Irish-themed sports bar that’s been serving a variety of beer and pub food in Destin since 2005. I was curious as to whether there actually would be any Irish-type food here, and meeting our hostess and server, Leah, who was from England, made me think the experience held promise.

The food The menu at Johnny O’Quigley’s is extensive with normal bar favorites such as chili cheese fries, wings, quesadillas and burgers. However, they had a menu filled with such entrees as bangers and mash, steak pie and shepard’s pie.

My friend and I chose the bangers and mash and the steak pie. For an appetizer, though, we decided to try some boneless wings with interesting sauces. One was a chipotle raspberry, and the other was a mandarin sauce.

The wings were pretty good, with the chipotle raspberry winning. The mandarin sauce was good as well, but the the chipotle was a definite favorite.

When our entrees arrived, my bangers and mash were served with the sausages poised over a mound of mashed potatoes all glazed in a brown gravy.

My friend’s steak pie came served in a silver crock. The steak was baked along with gravy, vegetables, mashed potatoes and topped with cheese.

This time, I was in the mood for dessert. The other food had been good, so why not see what they could do with sweets.

My friend decided on the bread pudding, while I chose the caramel apple crumble a la mode. Both desserts were very good.

My caramel apple crumble was everything it should be — warm and gooey, with some crunch to the top, all brought together with melting vanilla ice cream.

Johnny O’Quigley’s also serves lunch specials priced from $6.99 to $7.99. These specials include soup and salad, a flatbread personal pizza, a burger, country fried pork tenderloin, open-faced prime melt, a smoked barbecue brisket sandwich and a taco salad and taco platter.

Being a sports bar, O’Quigley’s serves a variety of beers with 24 on tap including Guinness, Bass, Harp and Lighthouse Porter - Pensacola Bay Brewery

The atmosphere Johnny O’Quigley’s is a sports bar, as it should be. Booths have their own TVs. Sports teams flags and banners hang along the walls, and there’s even a pool table in back.

Dark wood paneling gives the restaurant a rich, masculine feel.

The service Our server, Leah, was great. She was very attentive and knowledgable about the dishes being served.

She recommended the steak pie, saying it was immensely popular with diners. She also told us which wing sauces were winners.

A final taste Johnny O’Quigley’s has a relaxed atmosphere, but you can find some interesting, good food on its menu.

Quick Bites Johnny O’Quigley’s

Location 34940 Emerald Coast Pkwy Suite 101 Destin 850-837-1015

Hours 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Reservations Not necessary

Handicap accessibility Good

Children’s menu Yes

Price range

Appetizers $6.99 to $9.99

Wings $9.99 to $38.99

Sandwiches $8.99 to $11.99

Entrees $11.99 to $31.99

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